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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. chip — to eat
  3. chip — for betting
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. can — a tin
  7. march — the month
  8. swing — to play on
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. can — to be able to
  11. deal — to handle
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. swing — in golf
  14. pass — a permit
  15. ground — a position
  16. squash — to crush
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. can — a tin
  19. ground — crushed
  20. march — music
  21. squash — the sport
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. swing — music
  24. march — the month

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com